I'm a Libertarian living in Humboldt County, CA. I've lived here in Eureka since 1973 and joined the Libertarian Party in 1992. This blog will mostly focus on local political issues, but I may stray into state and national issues as well, when I can't help myself. Please post your comments by clicking on the "comments" link at the bottom of each post. Although I do moderate comments, you need not be a registered user to post them.

Monday, February 19, 2007

Fellow Travelers?

Anyone other than me find Suzie Owsley's column on fitness at sea pretty similar to Ed Denson's latest travelogue? Well ok, they're different, but they both talk about food, fitness and people aboard their cruise ship.

Look, these people haven't changed since High School or maybe grade school 'show and tell'. Remember every year's first writing assignment: "What I did for Summer Vacation". There's also a large dose of bragging and flaunting having the wherewithall and time to go on a long boat ride being attended to by servants.

This is what defines "sophistication" to the Humboldt respectable "in" set and the articles are instructions to those who want to be "popular" too. And luckily, both Conservatives and Progressives participate in this one. They're modeling living that "American lifestyle" which Cheney says can't be compromised and necessitates the killing and maiming thousands of citizens. Kinda an updated Mayan God that demands human sacrifices.

Cruises don't sound like a fun time IMO. You only get a few hours ashore and the entire time you're coddled by people who just want your money. Lame! And as Suzie said, she's the youngest person onboard! Whoopie! That sounds like a great time. At least with Ed, he actually basically is a senior citizen.

But because both people have written extensively on the damn cruise I would have to say you're better spending $12,000 on a tax deferred IRA, or hell, Disneyland is twice the size it used to be...

I went on a cruise once as a kid and I loved it. Of course, as a kid, I didn't have to worry about the money aspect of it.

It was a few years after we'd moved back to the states from Mexico.

We flew from Orange County, CA to Mexico City and spent a few days visiting some friends we knew down there. Then, we flew down through Central America in one of those small pond hopper type planes stopping in each country until we got to Costa Rica.

We stayed in CR for a while at our relatives house, then flew to Panama to the Pacific side. Took a train from Panama City(?) across the isthmus to Cologne and boarded the S.S. Oriana.

Sailed through the canal and steamed north. Stopped in Acapulco for a day and then headed home to the port of San Pedro.

Well it sounds like you had an awesome experience. I wish my parents were that worldly when I was that age.

I was in Cancun in '04 and it was remarkable how sequestered the foreign vacationers are in Mexico. Aside from the staff you're more likely to meet Canadians, Uk'ers, and Germans than you are the locals. We did a bit of traveling around the area, but I did get the distinct impression most people stay at the resorts and if they do go out its on a tour bus of some sort. Cruising really doesn't sound that different. Westerners + Japaners really don't like leaving their respective zones of comfort.